'Tis a happy day here at DCist HQ, jazz lovers! This Week in Jazz made its debut on D.C.'s best web site one year ago this week. We hope you've enjoyed the weekly listing and that it has inspired you to check out some of the fine improvisational music we have in our nation's capital. So without further ado, let's get to this week's agenda.

>> Tonight is the 5th Annual Congressional Blues Festival, held on the Kennedy Center's South Plaza. Make sure to check out our interview with festival headliner, Robert Cray. 6 p.m.

>> Let's also not forget that we're smack in the middle of the annual Big Band Jam. Blues Alley is hosting a number of bands this week including tonight's tribute to Ella Fitzgerald with vocalist Sharon Clark. Other highlights include daily masterclasses and performances of high school bands from around the country at the Sylvan Theater, located on the grounds of the Washington Monument, as well as a series of shows on the Millennium Stage.

>> There's only one place to be on Thursday night and that's at DC9 for Unbuckled 7, featuring Muhsinah (***), Motel (pictured), and DJ v:shal kanwar. Also be sure to check out yesterday's profile of Motel's Matt Grason. Doors are at 9 p.m. $8

>> Our next must see for the week takes place this Friday and Saturday at the historic Bohemian Caverns, where Dr. Leonard Brown is holding the CD release for, Sons of Suns, his first album as a leader. Dr. Brown is a professor of music and ethnomusicology at Boston's Northeastern University and has performed with Alice Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, George Russell, Bill Barron, Yusef Lateef, Alan Dawson, and Ed Blackwell. We'll have a full preview of the shows later this week. Tickets to the 9 and 11 p.m. sets are $15.

>> This Friday and Saturday, two of D.C.'s finest pair up at Twins Jazz. Altoist Bruce Williams and tenorman Paul Carr join forces to perform classic alto/tenor combo tunes from Cannonball and John Coltrane, Jackie McLean and Dexter Gordon, and Wayne Shorter and James Spaulding, as well as original compositions from their recent CDs. Call 202-234-0072 for cover information. 9 and 11 p.m. sets

>> On Sunday, head over to Bossa to check out the Dan Roberts Group, whose material is jazz based, but relies heavily on rock/indie rock rhythms and textures as well as electronic music. Call 202-667-0088 for cover information. 10 p.m.

>> We always look forward to UDC's Calvin Jones Big Band Festival. The annual event features the the top big bands from UDC, Howard University, and the University of Maryland. This year's concert takes place on Monday at 8 p.m. $20, $10 student tickets.

>> Next Tuesday, Blues Alley continues its series of embassy sponsored concerts with 8 and 10 p.m. sets by vocalist Sabrina Lastman, who hails from Uruguay but is now based in New York. Tickets are $20 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.

Photo courtesy Matt Grason